Method of making a shelf structure for refrigerators



Dec.20,1938.

J. R. WILLARD METHOD OF MAKING A SHELF STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATORS Fil ed Nov: 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll l.

P J J -4 -111 r q 4U U. h J. U." w r U w u fi .0 F .J i UTLM R h. flunk INYENTOR. JOHN E W/Zi AEfl BY 2 T'TORNEY.

Dec. 20, 1938. v.1. R; WILLARD METHOD OF MAKING A SHELF STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATORS Fiied Nov. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN/E. W/LLflFfl I QM ATTORNEY. Y

ll'atented o... 20, 1938. a 2,140,610

s PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING A SHELF STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATOBS John B. 'Willarfl, New Kenaington, Pa., asslgnor to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 7, 1935, Serial No. 48,681

- 4 Claims; (Cl. 29-160) I This invention relates to shelves and the like Fig. 5 shows a-section taken through another and an improved method of making the same. modification of the invention.

' Particularly, the invention relates to shelves for Referring to the drawings, and particularly to refrigerators where it is desirable to provide a Fig. 1, the sheet material I is provided with aplu- UNITED STATE structure thatis sanitary and readily cleaned. rality of relatively deep ribs 2 of slightly tapered 5 Prior shelf structures for refrigerators have section integrally formed thereon by rolling or a been subjectv to numerous disadvantages. due similar operation, which serve to impart longichiefly to the apparent impossibility of obtaining tudinal rigidity to the sheet and at the same time a structure having the strength and rigidity neceffect an economy of material. The material of essary to support the loads placed on the shelves the sheet is preferably a metal having consider- 1o and'to also permit adequate air circulation within able resistance to corrosion and at the same time the refrigerating chamber. The most generally comparatively high mechanical properties, such used shelf structures have been constructed of a as some of the known alloys of aluminum. If plurality of wires placed at substantially right made of a metal having inferior corrosion-resistangles to each other, forming an open lattlcework ant properties, the material may be coated with a 15 or grid. The, wires are generally attached in suitable material to protect the metal base. some manner at their ends to a rigid frame. In A preferred form of shelf made from this ribbed some cases the wires are welded to each other at sheet material is shown in Fi 2 t0 4 inclusiveeach intersection, and in other cases are merely The shelf is formed by cutting off the ribs for v welded where they are attached to 'the frame. adlstance back from the ends, asshown at 3. A 20 Due to their structure, such shelves have proflange 4 is formed around'the periphery of the vided numerous crevices or cracks where unsani- S e f by Dre-581118111 Suitable dies- Preferably this tary accumulations may locate, and have been flange is continuous, that is, not broken at the particularly susceptible to local corrosive attack corners, and is ry W h shelf- The Shelf of the metal forming the shelf at the joints beay b provided with p o o s 5. preferably tween the parts. Such local attack has occurred 01' an el n mm v s their longitudinal irrespective ofthe protective methods adopted axes perpendicular to the ribs 1 and located to minimize corrosion. A further disadvantage tween the ribs. The perforating operation may of the prior structures has been the relatively be coincident with the hanging operation or may irregular surface presented by the overlapping of occur thereafter. 30

thewires and upon which the contents or the As it is-usually o e ve e t o suppo t t I refrigerating chamber are placed. shelves by having the ends rest on suitable lugs It is an object of my invention to provide 9, or bosses extending from the sides of the refrigshelf structure free from unsightly, readily corcrating chamber, it is preferable that the flanges 5 rodible and unsanitary Joints. A further object located at the ends of the shelves be turned in to is the provision of aunitary shelf structure which provide a bearing surface 6 for the support of presents for the reception 'of the contents of the I shelfrefrigerator an absolutely fiat surface. Another It is in many cases desirable to make refrigbieC 18 o provide a shelf structure of great erator shelves in sections to permit the removal 40 rigidity and strength and still permitting an adeof a portion of the shelf to accommodate large quate circulation of air within the refrigerating high objects. Such 85 bottles, Placed on Shelves chamber. A still further object is to provide 9. located below the sectional shelf. The adaptastructure which is readily and economically fabribility of the sh of my invention to an pr v cat-ed by the described method- Further objects form of sectional shelf is illustrated in Fig. 5. 5 will be apparent from the following description Referring to Fig. 5, the shelf section Ill is a d t e d a s. in which: identical in detail with the shelf shown in the Fig. 1 shows'the ribbed sheet material utilized preceding figures. The shelf section ii is identiin the construction of the shelf,' shaped in the calexcept that the flange on the edge adjacent form of a blank: section It is turned upwardly at I! toform an Fig. 2 shows a top plan view of the formed inte k n a m n with the adjacent flange o sh l of shelf section It. A blank suitable for forming Fig. 3 shows a section taken along the line the shelf section would be the same as that shown III-III of Fig. 2; in Fig. 1' except that a projecting portion similar Fig. 4 shows a section taken along the line to that provided for forming the inwardly-turned IV-IV of Fig. 2; and I portions i is provided along one side of the blank. 55

The shelf structures above described, being formed of asingle sheet of material of novel form, are entirely free from joints of any nature, thus eliminating the possibility of localized corrosion and resting places for unsanitary accumulations. The upper surface of the shelf is absolutely flat, giving a level resting place for any article placed thereon, and presents a free sliding surface upon which articles may be moved about without risk of overturning;

The advantages of my shelf structure are mainly dependent upon the integrally-formed ribs which contribute to the longitudinal rigidity of the shelf. By reason of the stiffening effect of these ribs it is possible to provide a suflicient perforated area to obtain the desired circulation of air within the refrigerating chamber. The ribs should be of sufficient depth and area to make negligible the lessening of the longitudinal rigidity of the shelf due to the perforations. The combination of the shelf having the longitudinal stiffening ribs and the continuous integral flange makes a particularly desirable structure.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that change from the exact form illustrated may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of forming a unitary shelf for" broken flange.

ing said sheet by cutting said ribs back on an inclinea distance from the ends of the sheet substantially equal to the depth of the flange and turning down the edges by press forming.

2. The method of forming a unitary shelf for 3. The method of forming a unitary shelf for a a refrigerator or the like which comprises rolling a flatsurfaced sheet to produce on the under side thereof integral longitudinal ribs, flanging said sheet by cutting said ribs back on an incline a distance from the ends of the sheet substantially equal to the depthv of the flange and turning down the edges by press forming, perforating said sheet intermediate the ribs, and turninga portion of said flanges inwardly to provide a hearing surface.

4. The method of forming a unitary shelf for arefrigerator or the like which comprises rolling 'a flat surfaced wrought metal sheet having on the under side thereof integral longitudinal ribs,

flanging said sheet by cutting said ribs back on an incline a distance from the ends of the sheet substantially equal to the depth of the flange and turning down the edges of the sheet by press forming to give an integral, continuous and un- JOHN. R. WILLARD. 

